COPIAGUE - President Barack Obama made his case last night during a televised speech as to why the nation must respond to Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons against their own civilians, including hundreds of children.

Hopes for a diplomatic solution have risen, but the president says the threat of U.S. military force must be present.

"The images from this massacre are sickening. Men, women, children lying in rows, killed by poison gas....I've ordered our military to maintain their current posture to keep the pressure on Assad and to be in a position to respond if diplomacy fails," Obama said.

Long Islanders spoke to News 12 about how they think the president is handling the crisis in Syria.

"I think he's right because I don't want to see any more Americans die. Enough is enough," said Anthony Maltese, of West Babylon. "We do so much for other countries and I just think diplomacy is the right move right now."

"I think the president's being very diplomatic about it. I am, however, nervous about crossing into foreign territory again because things are just ending and cooling down. But I am concerned about the children's lives and the chemical attacks that are going on," said Giovhanny Archer, of Farmingdale State College.

Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart tomorrow in Geneva in an effort to work out a diplomatic solution and secure Syria's chemical weapons.